“This Isn’t What I Planned”
Embracing Uncertainty & Remembering What a Wedding is Truly About
You can have the longest engagement in the world, you could have a wedding coordinator, a stylist, a planner, all of the support needed to help you plan.. but you can’t 100% plan. With every season and location comes some level of uncertainty.
I mean look at the corona virus for example, no one, not a single person on earth, expected that to happen (except maybe The Simpsons, google it). Brides then eloped, they pivoted, they rescheduled, they developed a new plan. And they never lost sight of what their day was about.
Even prior to The Rona, brides never were quite in control, it was just an illusion of control. When I lived in Florida, getting married in hurricane season was a huge risk. And up until day of the wedding, you never really knew what the day would hold. Same goes for any venue, during any season, there’s weather, there’s illness, there’s mishaps- dress bustle ripping, the cake falling, the flowers at the altar wilting, a bridesmaid’s dress ripping. ANYTHING is possible.
I was reminded of this at my friends Katie and Preston’s wedding this past weekend. Their uncontrollable: rain.
It was a beautiful day as we got ready and sipped champagne, laughing and telling stories with the bride. It wasn’t till right on schedule at 4:30pm, 1 hour before the ceremony, that it would start downpouring. In the moment of trial, the planner (Aven Rosario), photographer (Michaella Jelin), and mother of the bride all came to the rescue to develop 3 back up rain plans. However, the day before, during the rehearsal, the groom vividly remembered his bride whispering to him “I don’t want to do the rain plan.” So when the coordinator came to Preston to get his opinion, he said “Let’s get married in the rain.” Knowing that indeed, would make his bride happy, as it would him.
And they were married in the rain.
You see in the weeks leading up to the wedding, Katie and Preston had talked about how cool it would be for God to show up in physical form. Although, he may not have shown up in person, we have seen through scripture he shows up as thunder. As someone who was standing up there in the bridal party and witnessed “I now pronounce you husband and wife.” **Thunder**
It brought chills to everyone’s body. As if God himself was saying he is pleased.
We see this in Job 37:4-5
“After it, a voice roars; He thunders with His majestic voice, And He does not restrain the lightnings when His voice is heard. “God thunders with His voice wondrously, Doing great things which we cannot comprehend.
Katie and Preston’s wedding was a beautiful reminder of what a wedding really is. It’s not about the weather being perfect, or the cake being 6 tiers, or having the timing of your walk be perfect.. it is about a coming together before God, friends, and family, to celebrate love and a marriage that pleases God. At the heart of God's design for marriage is companionship and intimacy. The biblical view of marriage is mirrored by the husband and wife relationship illustrating the relationship between Christ and the church. Marriage is about two becoming one. And in a time, such as we are in, a global pandemic… what a beautiful reminder that it is not about the wedding or the plan.
So you’re probably still wondering how Katie and Preston’s wedding turned out, right?
Well perfectly imperfect, spontaneous and fun, just like them, and full of so much joy and love.
See for yourself---
Photos are by the extremely talented: Michaella Jelin of Yellow Bird Visuals
Venue: Meadowlark 1939, Griffin, Georgia
As you can see, it was magical. The unplanned stayed a theme throughout the night. When Katie was tired of me re-bustling her dress (5 times), she decided to cut it off… not just the train but the WHOLE bottom half. In addition, after the sparkler sendoff the bride and groom immediately ran to the pool area where a large majority of the wedding and the couple jumped in the pool to end the night. Simply the most fun wedding ever. But I’m biased because they’re my best friends.
When it comes to wedding planning, make your plans, yes, because you have to, but don’t forget to leave room for the unexpected.
So you know, I pray that your day is everything you have dreamed of and more, but I also pray we leave all expectations of what a wedding should be at God’s feet. I pray that we remember what the day is for, and what it represents. I pray we stop comparing weddings to each others and that we take note from Katie and Preston, to dance in the rain, and to love one another so big. I pray that your day is beautiful and that God too shows up at your wedding.
Other incredible vendors that made the day possible:
Fleurs by Paige: florals
BHLDN: earrings
Sweet Auburn Barbecue: catering
Fizzy Atlanta: Beverage cart
Now the night before the wedding the mother of the bride actually overnighted a ton of ponchos and umbrellas, so we were able to put those to use in. the way they wanted to get married. Without the umbrellas the bridal party would’ve been soaked. And without the ponchos, the guests would’ve been too.
I have a few items that you may want to consider when trying to embrace the uncertainty but also have options.